Do you need a 5G phone?

Consider waiting for the price to decrease, glitches to be solved

1of2FILE - This Aug. 7, 2019 file photo shows the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, right, and the Galaxy Note 10 Plus on display during a launch event in New York. If youare among the aearly adoptersa who need to be first on the block for every technological advancement, youall need a 5G phone with Android. Samsung, Motorola, LG and OnePlus are among the companies that already have 5G models using Googleas operating system. Apple isnat expected to release a 5G iPhone until next year. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)Mary Altaffer2of2Shoppers inspect Apple products at their New York store on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. The iPhone 11 became available Friday. (James Estrin/The New York Times)JAMES ESTRIN

New York

No 5G iPhone? No problem. You probably don't want one.

For most people, it's smart to stick with a smartphone that isn't compatible with speedier 5G wireless networks, which are just starting to roll out. That's the case even if you think you'll be hanging on to your next phone for a few years.

Not only are the first-generation 5G phones expensive, their antennas and modems typically work only with particular 5G networks owned by specific mobile carriers. That could limit your options if you're trying to get the faster speeds while roaming overseas or on a rival company's network — or if you decide to switch providers later.

Experts say second-generation phones in the coming year will address those and other shortcomings. The research firm IDC, calling 2019 "an introductory year at best," expects 5G phones to make up 9 percent of worldwide shipments next year and 28 percent in 2023.

The target market

Samsung, Motorola, LG and OnePlus already make 5G phones that use Google's Android system. Huawei announced one Thursday, though it's missing popular Google apps because of a U.S. ban on tech exports to the Chinese company.

Though 5G phones are a niche product, IHS Markit said phone makers haven't been able to keep up with surprisingly strong demand, especially in South Korea.

Samsung said it has sold 2 million 5G phones worldwide since April and expects to double that by the end of the year. Motorola said it has seen "tremendous engagement and excitement" from customers.

But Motorola said such first-generation products primarily suit early adopters.

New iPhones out Friday won't support 5G. Apple typically waits for tech to mature before adopting it.

The price of 5G

The speedy wireless technology can add a few hundred dollars to phone price tags. For instance, Samsung's standard Galaxy S10 phone costs $900; the 5G model costs $1,300, though Samsung said it also showcases the company's best features, including a larger screen and a better camera. For Motorola, 5G comes as a $350 option for the existing Moto Z series phones.

"This territory is reserved for the leading-edge type of consumer, those willing to sacrifice a bit more money up front to be first," said Wayne Lam, an analyst at IHS Markit. "Longer term is where the smart money is."

The price gap is expected to narrow and eventually disappear as 5G standard, Geoff Blaber of CCS Insight said.

Network limitations

Even as phone companies make big claims about revolutionary applications, 5G coverage is limited to certain neighborhoods in a few cities. While 5G phones can still connect over existing 4G LTE networks, "are you willing to spend extra for something you might not see consistently until 2021?" IHS Markit analyst Josh Builta asks.

5G is actually a set of wireless technologies using different parts of the airwaves. Each wireless carrier emphasizes a different flavor of 5G, and each one is selling 5G phones designed specifically for its network.

Wireless networks have a history of Balkanization, although it sorts out. Verizon and Sprint use wireless tech called CDMA, while AT&T and T-Mobile use an incompatible version, GSM. Similar all-in-one 5G phones should be common by 2020.